“I’ve never been a big ego guy. Even when I was a head coach, everything was done together, everything was done as a whole staff,” Haynes said Friday, hours after finalizing his contract. “I know Coach D likes a lot of input in things that he does. But for the most part, what I learned over those five years is seeing the whole picture of a program.”

Terms of Haynes’ contract and Tressel’s promotion were not immediately released.

Haynes brings with him a wealth of experience, including a one-year NFL stint as defensive quality control coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also served as defensive backs coach for Dantonio’s mentor and Mike Tressel’s uncle, Jim Tressel, at Ohio State from 2005-10, then spent a year under Luke Fickell as co-defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes in 2011.

(Photo: The Associated Press)

“He’s coached here before, so he’s got a Spartan background,” Dantonio said at the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association annual clinic at Lansing Center. “But he’s been a secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State, coached on the highest level in the secondary. He’s been a head coach, and I think that gives him a big-picture feel. I think he’s an excellent recruiter … and I think that he’s a dynamic person as well. So we’re very, very excited about that.”

Haynes was 14-45 in his tenure at his alma mater Kent State, his only head coaching position. Former Dantonio assistant Don Treadwell was his offensive coordinator the past three seasons. Haynes said he will continue to use his recruiting ties to Ohio and the Atlanta area, two spots that were previously Harlon Barnett’s territories.

One of the things that Dantonio, Haynes and Mike Tressel said made hiring Haynes work was a shared philosophy and understanding of terminology and structure of MSU’s defense.

Sept. 2: Michigan State's Tyson Smith returns an interception 38 yards for a touchdown against Bowling Green. Smith suffered a stroke days after the 2016 season ended. “I blinked, the ball was in my hands, and I was running,” Smith said.
Al Goldis, AP

Sept. 2: Felton Davis III pulls in an 8-yard touchdown pass over Bowling Green's Robert Jackson Jr. during the third quarter. It was the second of nine TDs in the 2017 season for the junior wideout.
Al Goldis, AP

Sept. 23: Former Michigan State football star Kirk Gibson is honored during the team's game against Notre Dame in East Lansing. Gibson had his name and No. 23 inducted into the Spartan Stadium "Ring of Fame."
Al Goldis, AP

Oct. 7: Running back Madre London runs downfield for 50 yards through the Michigan defense during the first half. London gained 59 yards on 10 carries and added a 16-yard score on a screen pass.
Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Dec. 28: Michigan State's LJ Scott runs against Washington State during the first quarter of the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Calif. After running for 110 yards and two scores in MSU's 42-17 victory, Scott declared he would return in 2018 for his senior year.
Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Dec. 28: Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio reacts while being doused with Gatorade by senior linebacker Chris Frey after dominating Washington State, 42-17, in the Holiday Bowl. It was Dantonio's 100th career victory at MSU, and his fifth bowl win in the past six tries.
Jake Roth, USA TODAY Sports

“Everything is setup here to win a championship,” Haynes said. “I think a big part with Coach D is getting someone in here that, not only X and O-wise, but philosophy-wise, a lot of the things that he believes in, I believe in because we come from the same tree of a lot of our mentors with Nick Saban and Coach (Jim) Tressel and all those guys. So I think that was a big part in his hiring, in being interested in me.

“And what I’m looking for in my coaching profession is just being around a guy that wants to win championships, but doing it the right way.”

“Mike’s done a tremendous job, just as Harlon had, but I think he’ll do an outstanding job,” Dantonio said. “He’s been deeply, deeply involved in every aspect.”

Tressel also will move to the coaching box after being on the field since he was a graduate assistant in 2002-03 when Dantonio was Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. His only play-calling experience is as an offensive coordinator at Wartburg College in Iowa.

“Acts of duty right now are recruiting, recruiting, recruiting, because players make plays,” said Tressel, who came to MSU from Cincinnati in 2007. “That’s what we’re out doing. And we’re trying to get everyone on staff on the same page. But the defense we run is what we run, so that’s not a problem.”

“I think that (10th coach) is gonna be a special teams assistant, not a coordinator, he’s gonna be a defensive back assistant,” Dantonio said. “I want him to be the head coach of our freshman and I want him to be a conduit to our offense in some regards.”

Dantonio said he hopes to have the two unfilled positions finalized by the middle of next week.

“We’re in the process on that, and they’re gonna come one at a time,” Dantonio said. “I’m kind of hoping I get it done by mid-week. I think that to get our guys out, I’d like them to be out on the recruiting trail for at least two weeks or one week to just sort of introduce themselves to the new coaches and to the high schools. We’re trying, but we want to make good decisions.”